Archives

Simple Chilled Tomato Soup

September 9, 2021 by pamflo

Although fall is in view, this chilled soup is a throwback to summer and you can use the remainder of the beautiful ripe tomatoes. This is a refreshing tomato soup that is light and simple to make. It’s actually a twist on a Greek salad, but re-invented as a soup. The fresh oregano adds an earthy, peppery flavor. If you’re unable to find it you can substitute fresh thyme or basil leaves. A good blender, Cuisinart, or immersion blender is […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Soup, Vegetables • Tags: Sauté, Whiz

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Potato and Egg Salad

August 5, 2021 by pamflo

Summer outings, BBQ’s, and elegant picnics aren’t complete without potato salad. This recipe is an easy and lighter alternative to the goopy, mayo-laden version. This dish is so delicious with creamy steamed Yukon gold potatoes and soft boiled eggs mixed with a tangy mustard vinaigrette. Yum! Topped with some fresh chopped chives and a smattering of chopped dill pickles, this is a great summer dish. Potato and Egg Salad Print Recipe Servings 4 servings Servings 4 servings Potato and Egg […]

Categories: Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Eggs, Gluten Free, Healthish, Salads, Side Dish • Tags: Boil, Steam

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Watermelon Dessert Pizza

July 1, 2021 by pamflo

It’s steamy hot in Massachusetts right now, and here is a refreshing dish requiring no cooking. This is a fun riff on a dessert “pizza” with the watermelon slices resembling slices of pizza. It’s as easy as whipping the ricotta with vanilla extract, honey, a pinch of cinnamon and slathering it on thick, juicy slices of watermelon. It’s a beautiful light dessert or a creative brunch dish. Festive and perfect for the July 4th holiday! Watermelon Dessert Pizza Print Recipe […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas • Tags: No Cooking

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Salad Niçoise

June 10, 2021 by pamflo

This beautiful salad originated in the French city of Nice and is traditionally made with hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, Niçoise olives, and tuna or anchovies. You can be as creative with the ingredients as you like! I added sliced cucumbers and grilled artichokes. It takes a little time in the preparation of each item, but you can cook the green beans, potatoes and eggs ahead of time. It’s a great dish for a potluck dinner or feeding a crowd. I recommend […]

Categories: Beans, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Dressing, Eggs, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Seafood, Vegetables • Tags: Boil, Steam

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Ginger Peanut Chicken Wings

May 27, 2021 by pamflo

These wings are simple to prepare and bake quickly. The bite from the ginger combined with the sweetness of the honey makes a very tasty sauce. Ginger root is readily available in most markets and is known for its ability to ease nausea and improve digestion. The best way to prepare the root it is to cut off the smaller roots from the main piece and peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler or the side of a spoon. […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Meat/Poultry, Peanuts • Tags: Bake

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Jerusalem-Style Everything Bagels

May 6, 2021 by pamflo

These crusty, slightly sweet bagels are found all over the city of Jerusalem on street carts, sold by many of the cultures that make up this beautiful city. American style bagels require a brief boil in water before baking to retain their shape, but these bagels do not. The bagels will rise twice before baking and are generously coated with everything spice or just sesame seeds, if you wish. This recipe is from the Sababa cookbook, written by the talented […]

Categories: Breads, Breakfast Ideas, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Holiday Ideas • Tags: Bake

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Cashew Butter and Honey Cookies

March 11, 2021 by pamflo

I “virtually” attended a cookie baking extravaganza during the holidays with talented food stylist and recipe developer, Susan Spungen. Almost immediately after the class, I baked her cashew cookies and I haven’t stopped thinking about them since. It was time to make another batch and share the recipe. My all time favorite cookie is the sesame tahini cookie (see recipe in zesty archives), but these delicious cookies come in at a very close second. The combination of the cashew butter […]

Categories: Cookies, Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Gifts, Nuts • Tags: Bake

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Homemade Soft Rye Pretzels

January 14, 2021 by pamflo

Making homemade pretzels is a fun winter’s day project that is simpler than it appears. These pretzels, recently featured in an issue of Eating Well magazine are made with extra-virgin olive oil and light rye flour for a healthier pretzel. The light rye flour adds a subtle malt, or pleasant but slight sour flavor and creates a denser pretzel then just using only all-purpose flour. These pretzels call for instant dry yeast instead of using active dry yeast. The smaller instant […]

Categories: Breads, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Healthish, Pretzels, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Honey Glazed Chicken Wings

January 16, 2020 by pamflo

I use local raw honey everyday to sweeten my tea and thought it might be fun to post a savory recipe using honey. These chicken wings are spicy and delicious. Here are some interesting facts about honey; it’s a sweet liquid from the nectar of flowers produced by bees, and not only a sweetener but it can soothe a cough, heal a wound, promote digestion, and populate your gut with good bacteria. There is some research that suggests that eating […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Holiday Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Meat/Poultry, Side Dish • Tags: Broil

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Spicy Steamed Shrimp

February 21, 2019 by pamflo

En papillote or cooking “in paper” is when food is enclosed in packets of parchment paper or foil, and cooked in the oven. It’s an easy and healthy way to steam food, and infuse flavor. The traditional method of using parchment paper requires origami-style folding and results in a beautiful, elegant presentation; aluminum foil works too. The parchment or foil needs to be sealed completely in order to keep the steam from escaping while the food cooks. As the packets bakes, […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Healthish, Lunch Ideas, Seafood, Vegetables • Tags: Steam

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Summer Charcuterie Platter

August 30, 2018 by pamflo

Shopping at your local farmers market is the best way to connect to what is fresh and seasonal. It supports the local farmers and minimizes the impact on the earth, with less distance to travel to your plate. With the amazing array of produce and no cooking required, I assembled fresh fruits and vegetables paired with cheese and meat, accompanied by crispy crackers….and a glass of rosé wine! There is an unlimited choice of the freshest fruits and vegetables in […]

Categories: Appetizer, Fruit, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Nuts, Vegetables • Tags: No Cooking

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Spiked Watermelon Mint Popsicles

August 16, 2018 by pamflo

What fun I had making boozy watermelon popsicles! I made two delicious batches of the pops, one spiked with citrus vodka and a non-alcoholic version with fresh squeezed orange juice. Both popsicles were a scrumptious and refreshing summer treat! With only 8 popsicle molds, I used the extra juice to make ice cubes. I recommend using wooden popsicle sticks for the ice cubes. Although the watermelon juice separates and settles at the bottom of the pop, it doesn’t affect the […]

Categories: Boozy, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Popsicles • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

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Quinoa Veggie Bowl with a Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette

July 19, 2018 by pamflo

Some of the best salads I’ve had this summer have been a combination of vegetables, greens and grains with a protein. This is a very easy meal to prepare, especially if you recycle your leftovers. I composed my own bowl with leftover tri-colored quinoa and sautéed broccolini, fresh basil from my garden, sweet tomatoes, avocado and a hard boiled egg. Grains like brown rice, farro or freekeh work well. Add nuts or seeds for crunch or any type of greens […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dressing, Eggs, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Rice/Grains, Salads, Vegetables • Tags: Boil

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Frico Salad Cups

June 21, 2018 by pamflo

Called frico, these crisp cracker cups are made entirely of melted cheese. They’re easy to make and can elevate your cheese platter, make a beautiful salad holder, or just be a fun snack. It’s as simple as making mounds of cheese on a sheet tray and baking until melted and lightly browned. I placed the hot lacy crackers in an empty muffin tin to create a perfect serving bowl. I filled my cups with a fresh radish and cucumber salad, […]

Categories: Appetizer, Cheeses, Crackers, Dressing, Gluten Free, Lunch Ideas, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetables • Tags: Bake

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Zest For Cooking

I love to cook and share my love of food!

Archives

Simple Chilled Tomato Soup

Potato and Egg Salad

Watermelon Dessert Pizza

Salad Niçoise

Ginger Peanut Chicken Wings

Jerusalem-Style Everything Bagels

Cashew Butter and Honey Cookies

Homemade Soft Rye Pretzels

Honey Glazed Chicken Wings

Spicy Steamed Shrimp

Summer Charcuterie Platter

Spiked Watermelon Mint Popsicles

Quinoa Veggie Bowl with a Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette

Frico Salad Cups